Lens cover that slides along front surface of a camera body

ABSTRACT

A camera having a sliding cover supported to slide along a front surface of a camera body to selectively cover and uncover a photographing lens. The sliding cover has at least two sliding cover elements which are slidable along the front surface of the camera body. The sliding cover has a main cover element that slides along the front surface of the camera body, and an auxiliary cover element provided between the main cover element and the front surface of the camera body. The auxiliary cover element is moved in association with a movement of the main cover element in an opening direction and a closing direction to respectively increase and reduce an amount of overlap between the main cover element and the auxiliary cover element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera having a sliding cover whichis slidable along a front surface of a camera body.

2. Description of the Related Art

In conventional cameras, a single sliding cover is provided to slidealong a front surface of the camera body in a longitudinal direction, sothat when the sliding cover is manually slid to selectively cover oruncover a photographing lens, the photographing lens is located in aninoperative position in which no picture can be taken or in an operativeposition in which a picture can be taken.

Generally, in such conventional cameras, when the sliding cover isclosed, not only the photographing lens but also an object window of aview finder (finder object window), an AF object distance measuringwindow, or an AE photometering window, etc., provided on the frontsurface of the camera body, are protected (covered) by the slidingcover. Consequently, upon photographing, the sliding cover must be movedto open or uncover the photographing lens, the finder object window, theAF object distance measuring window, and the AE photometering window, onthe front surface of the camera body.

To miniaturize the camera, it is necessary to make the sliding coversmall. In particular, to reduce the longitudinal size of the camera, thesliding (shifting) amount of the sliding cover must be reduced. However,if the sliding cover is too small, it is impossible for the slidingcover to cover the photographing lens, the finder object window, the AFobject distance measuring window, and the AE photometering window, whenclosed. Moreover, if the sliding amount of the sliding cover is toosmall, it is impossible to completely uncover the photographing lens,the finder object window, the AF object distance measuring window, andthe AE photometering window, on the front surface of the camera body,when the sliding cover is opened. Under these conditions, there has beena limitation to the amount by which the camera can be miniaturized dueto the restriction of the size and displacement of the sliding cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera having asliding cover, in which the photographing lens and other windows- suchas the finder object window, the AF object distance measuring window andthe AE photometering window can be completely covered or protected bythe sliding cover and can be completely uncovered from the sliding coverwhen the sliding cover is closed and opened, respectively, even in arelatively small camera.

To achieve the object mentioned above, according to an aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a camera having a sliding coverwhich is supported to slide along a front surface of a camera body toselectively cover or uncover at least a photographing lens. The slidingcover consists of at least two sliding cover elements which are slidablealong the front surface of the camera body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda camera having a sliding cover which is movable between a lens coveringposition in which at least a photographing lens is covered by thesliding cover and a lens uncovering position in which the photographinglens is uncovered. The sliding cover consists of a plurality of slidingcover elements which are relatively movable to vary the amount ofoverlap therebetween. The amount of overlap between the sliding coverelements is at a minimum in the lens covering position and is at amaximum in the lens uncovering position so as to minimize thedisplacement of the sliding cover.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a camera having a lens protecting cover structure, having amain cover element which is guided to slide along the front surface of acamera body to selectively open or close a photographing lens of thecamera. An abutment surface is provided on the front surface of thecamera body to restrict the movement of the main cover element in theclosing direction thereof. An non-contact end surface is provided at oneend of the main cover element to form a space between the abutmentsurface and the non-contact end surface. An auxiliary cover element isprovided between the main cover element and the front surface of thecamera body to close the space when the main cover is in the closedposition.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in JapanesePatent Application No. 8-8633 (filed on Jan. 22, 1996) which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a camera when a sliding cover isclosed, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a camera when a sliding cover isopened, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the camera shown in FIG. 1with the sliding cover removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a sliding cover;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a sliding cover as viewed from the insidethereof; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a sliding cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a camera (camera body) 10 to whichthe present invention is applied. The camera 10 is a lens shutter typeof AF/AE zoom compact camera and has a main sliding cover 40 which isslidable in a longitudinal direction along a front surface of a body ofthe camera 10. FIG. 1 shows a non-photographing position or inoperativeposition (closed position) of the main sliding cover 40 when closed.FIG. 2 shows a photographing position or operative position (openposition) of the main sliding cover 40 when opened.

A front body wall 11 of the camera 10 is provided with a first frontsurface 12 on and along which the main sliding cover 40 slides, and asecond front surface 13 which is located in front of the first frontsurface 12 by a predetermined amount.

A photographing lens opening 14 is formed on the portion of the firstfront surface 12 close to the second front surface 13, so that aphotographing lens 15 can be retracted or advanced into or from theopening 14.

The photographing lens 15 of the camera body 10 is provided with athree-step feed type zoom lens (variable focal length lens) barrelhaving first, second and third movable lens barrels 16, 17 and 18arranged concentric to each other. The movable lens barrels 16, 17 and18 are moved through and in the photographing lens opening 14.

FIG. 3 shows a retracted position of the photographing lens 15 of thecamera 10. In the retracted position, the front end surfaces of thefirst, second and third movable lens barrels 16, 17 and 18 lie insubstantially the same plane. When the main sliding cover 40 is moved toan open position as shown in FIG. 2, the photographing lens 15 isadvanced slightly to move the inner photographing optical system of thephotographing lens 15 to a wide angle position (WIDE) and is thentelescopically moved in accordance with an operation of a zoom operationswitch (not shown) provided on an upper portion of a rear surface of thecamera 10 to vary the focal length between the wide angle position(WIDE) and a telephoto position (TELE).

The first front surface 12 of the camera 10 above the photographing lens15 is provided with a longitudinally elongated (rectangular) windowportion 19. The window portion 19 includes a finder object window 20, anAE photometering window 21, a self-timer lamp 22 which indicates that aself-timer is in an operative position, and an AF object distancemeasuring window 23, arranged in this order from the left side as viewedin FIG. 2. A strobe window 25 is provided on an upper portion of thesecond front surface 13.

The camera body 10 is provided with upper and lower guide grooves 30which extend longitudinally along upper and lower edges of the firstfront surface 12 of the camera body 10. Guide rails 32 (see FIG. 4)which are provided on upper and lower ends of the inner surface of themain slide cover 40 are slidably fitted in the guide grooves 30. Namely,the main slide cover 40 is slidable in the longitudinal directionthrough the upper and lower guide grooves 30 and the corresponding upperand lower guide rails 32.

An auxiliary slide cover (sub-slide cover) 50 is provided on the innerside of the main slide cover 40 so as to move relative to the main slidecover 40 in association with the slide movement of the main slide cover40. Thus, the slide cover of the camera 10 consists of the overlappedmain and sub-slide covers 40 and 50. One of the most significantfeatures of the present embodiment is that the slide cover consists oftwo or more slide cover elements, i.e., the main slide cover (element)40 and the sub-slide cover (element) 50.

The main slide cover 40 is provided on one end 47 thereof adjacent tothe second front surface 13, with abutment end surfaces 47a provided onupper and lower extremities of the end 47, and a non-contact surface47b. The non-contact surface 47b is spaced from the ends of the abutmentend surfaces 47a by a predetermined distance W in the left direction ina front elevational view of the camera 10 (FIG. 1). The camera 10 isprovided on the front surface thereof with an abutment surface 12f whichconnects the first front surface 12 and the second front surface 13. Theabutment surface 12f extends in a vertical direction of the camera 10and in a plane parallel to an optical axis of the lens 15.

When the main slide cover 40 is closed, the upper and lower abutmentsurfaces 47a come into contact with the abutment surface 12f, but thenon-contact end surface 47b is spaced from the abutment surface 12f bythe predetermined distance W. Consequently, when the main slide cover 40is closed, there is a space between the non-contact end surface 47b andthe abutment surface 12f. The non-contact end surface 47b is formed suchthat the front surface of the photographing lens 15 and the windowportion 19 of the camera 10 are fully opened (uncovered) when the mainslide cover 40 is in an open position, as shown in FIG. 2. In otherwords, the end 47 (non-contact end surface 47b ) never covers a part ofthe photographing lens 15 and the window portion 19 when the main slidecover 40 is in the open position.

The space produced between the non-contact end surface 47b and theabutment surface 12f when the main slide cover 40 is closed is coveredby the end surface 58 of the sub-slide cover 50 opposed to the abutmentsurface 12f. Namely, the size of the main slide cover 40 is notsufficient to completely cover the photographing lens 15 and the windowportion 19 of the camera 10, so that a predetermined space is producedbetween the non-contact end surface 47b and the abutment surface 12f,even when the main slide cover 40 is closed. Consequently, thephotographing lens 15 and the window portion 19 are partly exposedthrough the space. However, the space is covered by the end surface 58of the sub-slide cover 50. Thus, the end portion of the photographinglens 15 and the window portion 19, opposed to the space are covered bythe sub-slide cover 50 without being exposed from the front of thecamera 10.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the main slide cover 40,the sub-slide cover 50 provided on the inner side of the main slidecover 40, and the members surrounding the same. FIG. 5 shows an innerend view of the main slide cover 40.

The longitudinal section of the main slide cover 40 is slightly U-shaped(curved) and is provided with the longitudinally extending upper andlower guide rails 32 on the inner surface thereof. The sub-slide cover50, whose shape is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided on the inner sideof the main slide cover 40, so that the sub-slide cover 50 is slidablein a longitudinal direction with respect to the main slide cover 40. Thesub-slide cover 50 is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyelongated guide holes 51, 52, 53 and 54 in which corresponding guidepins 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d provided on the main slide cover 40 areinserted, so that the sub-slide cover 50 is guided to slide in thelongitudinal direction with respect to the main slide cover 40.

The main slide cover 40 is provided with a receptacle plate 60 securedthereto by means of a plurality of screws (not shown). The sub-slidecover 50 is held between the main slide cover 40 and the receptacleplate 60. The screws are screwed in corresponding threaded holes 43a,43b, 43c and 43d formed in the inner surface of the main slide cover 40through corresponding insertion holes 61a, 61b, 61c and 61d of thereceptacle plate 60. Thus, the sub-slide cover 50 is prevented frombeing disengaged from the main slide cover 40 by the receptacle plate60.

A drive lever 70 is provided between the main slide cover 40 and thesub-slide cover 50. The drive lever 70 is rotatably attached at asubstantially central portion thereof to the main slide cover 40 by ashaft 44 provided on the inner surface of the main slide cover 40. Thedrive lever 70 is provided on a lower end thereof with an engaging leg71 which extends in a rearward direction of the camera body 10, and onan upper end thereof with a first projection 72 which extends in aforward direction of the camera body 10 and a second projection 73 whichextends through the engaging hole 55 formed in the sub-slide cover 50 inthe rearward direction of the camera body 10. The engaging leg 71 can beselectively engaged with first and second drive ribs (drivers) 12a and12b that are formed on the lower end of the first front surface 12 andare spaced from one another by a predetermined distance in thelongitudinal direction.

When a rotation of the drive lever 70 about the shaft 44 takes place,the first projection 72 is guided by a curved guide groove 45 formed inthe inner surface of the main slide cover 40, and the second projection73 is guided by a curved guide groove 63 formed in the receptacle plate60 through the engaging hole 55. With this arrangement, the rotation ofthe drive lever 70 causes the second projection 73 to press the innersurface of the engaging hole 55 to thereby slide the sub-slide cover 50in the longitudinal direction.

A torsion spring 75, provided between the main slide cover 40 and thesub-slide cover 50, engages at one end with the first projection 72 andat the other end with the guide pin 42a provided on the inner surface ofthe main slide cover 40. A generally V-shaped click spring 65 isprovided between the receptacle plate 60 and the first front surface 12of the camera 10. The click spring 65 is provided with a central convexportion (projecting portion) 65a protruding in the forward direction ofthe camera 10. The portion 65a abuts against the receptacle plate 60.The first front surface 12 is provided with a recessed spring seat 12cwhich receives the click spring 65. The recessed spring seat 12c isprovided on an upper end thereof with a small projection 12d. The upperand lower ends of the click spring 65 abut against the recessed seat 12cwhile the small projection 12d is engaged in a hole 65b formed in theupper end of the click spring 65. Thus, the receptacle plate 60 issubjected to a frictional force by the click spring 65, regardless ofthe position of the main slide cover 40. Consequently, the slidemovement of the main slide cover 40 is effected against the frictionalforce by the click spring 65.

An operation projection 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which is provided on theinner surface of the main slide cover 40 projects in the rearwarddirection of the camera 10. The operation projection 46 is engageablewith a main switch pin 67 (FIG.3) projecting from the first frontsurface 12 of the camera 10 in the forward direction. The main switchpin 67 is movable within a predetermined limit in the longitudinaldirection of the camera 10 and is continuously biased by a biasing means(not shown) in the right direction of the camera as viewed in FIG. 3.When the main switch pin 67 is moved to the left end position (left endas viewed in FIG. 3) against the biasing means, the power source of thecamera 10 is turned ON. Conversely, when the main switch pin 67 isslightly moved (for example, by approximately 1 mm) in the rightdirection from the left end position, the power source of the camera isturned OFF. An engaging leg 12e is provided on the first front surface12 of the camera 10 above and near the main switch pin 67. The engagingleg 12e projects in the forward direction of the camera 10. The engagingleg 12e engages with an engaging leg 56 provided on the sub-slide cover50 when the cover 50 is moved to a predetermined position.

The camera 10 having the construction as described above operates asfollows:

In FIG. 1 in which the main slide cover 40 is completely closed, thedrive lever 70 is located in a position indicated by a dotted and dashedline in FIG. 5, in which the engaging leg 71 of the drive lever 70engages with the first drive rib 12a. In this state, the sub-slide cover50 covers the space W defined between the non-contact end surface 47band the abutment surface 12f, while the end surface 58 of the sub-slidecover 50 adjacent to the end 47 of the main slide cover 40 abuts againstthe abutment surface 12f. In this closed position, the amount of overlapbetween the main slide cover 40 and the sub-slide cover 50 is minimum.Also, in the closed position, the torsion spring 75 is located in aposition indicated by a dotted and dashed line in FIG. 5, so that thedrive lever 70 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by the torsionspring 75. Consequently, the end surface 58 of the sub-slide cover 50 iselastically brought into contact with the abutment surface 12f by thebiasing force of the torsion spring 75.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, if the main slide cover 40 is manuallyslid to open, the engaging leg 71 of the drive lever 70 is disengagedfrom the first drive rib 12a, and then the engaging leg 71 abuts againstthe second drive rib 12b immediately before the main slide cover 40 iscompletely opened. Further movement of the main slide cover 40 in theopening direction (in the left direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) causes thedrive lever 70 to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5.Consequently, the torsion spring 75 is moved beyond the dead center fromthe position indicated by a dotted and dashed line in FIG. 5 to aposition indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 5. In the position indicatedby a dotted and dashed line in FIG. 5, the torsion spring 75 is free. Asa result of the rotation of the drive lever 70 in the clockwisedirection mentioned above, the sub-slide cover 50 is moved by apredetermined amount in a retraction direction to retract the sub-slidecover 50 into the main slide cover 40, i.e., in the left direction inFIG. 2 (right direction in FIG. 5) through the second engaging leg 73and the engaging hole 55.

When a further movement of the main slide cover 40 in the openingdirection is made, the engaging leg 71 is moved in the left direction inFIG. 5 by the second drive rib 12b, so that the drive lever 70 isrotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5. Consequently, thesub-slide cover 50 is further retracted into the main slide cover 40 toa most retracted position (FIG. 2). In this open position, the amount ofoverlap between the main slide cover 40 and the sub-slide cover 50 is ata maximum. In the open position, the drive lever 70 and the torsionspring 75 are located in the respective positions indicated by thetwo-dotted and dashed lines in FIG. 5. The movement of the main slidecover 40 to the most retracted position causes the operation projection46 on the inner surface of the main slide cover 40 to abut against themain switch pin 67 to move the pin 67 to the left end position as viewedfrom a front elevational view to thereby turn the power source of thecamera 10 ON. In the open position of the main slide cover 40, theengaging projection 56 of the sub-slide cover 50 abuts against theengaging leg 12e of the first front surface 12 to prevent a furthermovement of the sub-slide cover 50 into the main slide cover 40. Namely,in the open position of the main slide cover 40, the engaging leg 12edetermines the position of the sub-slide cover 50 in the main slidecover 40. Also, when in the open position, the main slide cover 40 isstably held in the position shown in FIG. 2 due to the frictional forceby the click spring 65 so long as no external force is applied. When thepower source of the camera 10 is turned ON, the photographing lens 15 isslightly advanced so that a picture can be taken, as mentioned above.

The manual movement of the main slide cover 40 from the open positionshown in FIG. 2 to a closed position will be discussed below. When themain slide cover 40 is slightly (for example, approximately 1 mm) movedin the closing direction (right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2), theoperation projection 46 is disengaged from the main switch pin 67 toturn the power source of the camera 10 OFF. Consequently, thephotographing lens 15 is retracted as shown in FIG. 3. Also, theengaging leg 71 is disengaged from the second drive rib 12b, so that thedrive lever 70 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 bythe biasing force of the torsion spring 75. Consequently, the slightmovement of the sub-slide cover 50 toward the closed position occurs.

When a further movement of the main slide cover 40 is made to close thesame, the engaging leg 71 comes into contact with the first drive rib12a immediately before the main slide cover 40 is completely closed. Ifthe main slide cover 40 is further moved to a completely closedposition, the drive lever 70 is rotated in the counterclockwisedirection in FIG. 5, so that the sub-slide cover 50 is moved in theclosing direction to abut against the abutment surface 12f. Namely, thesub-slide cover 50 is moved beyond the dead center of the torsion spring75 from the position indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 5 to theposition indicated by a dotted and dashed line in FIG. 5. Consequently,the end surface 58 of the sub-slide cover 50 abuts against the abutmentsurface 12f due to the biasing force. Thus, the front surface of thephotographing lens 15 and the window portion 19 of the camera 10 areentirely covered by the main slide cover 40 and the sub-slide cover 50.

As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, since the slidecover consists of two cover elements, i.e., the main slide cover(element) 40 and the sub-slide cover (element) 50, the photographinglens 15 and the window portion 19 of the camera can be wholly coveredwhen the slide cover is closed, and can be entirely uncovered when theslide cover is in an open position, despite the fact that the size anddisplacement of the slide cover are considerably small.

Although the above discussion has been directed to a camera including aphotographing lens 15 having a three-step feed type zoom lens barrel,the present invention is not limited thereto. Namely, the presentinvention can be equally applied to a camera having a photographing lenswith a one-step feed type, a two-step feed type or more than three-stepfeed type zoom lens, or a single focal length type photographing lenshaving no feedable lens barrel.

Although the slide cover of the camera 10 consists of two slide coverelements, i.e., the main slide cover 40 and the sub-slide cover 50 inthe illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For instance, it is possible to provide two or more slide coverelements on the inner side of the main slide cover 40. Namely, thenumber of slide cover elements can be more than two.

Furthermore, although the drive means for rotating the drive lever 70consists of the first drive rib 12a and the second drive rib 12bprovided on the first front surface 12 of the camera body in theillustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to thisarrangement. The drive ribs can be replaced with other members providedon the first front surface 12.

In addition, although the finder object window 20, the AE photometeringwindow 21, the self-timer lamp 22 and the AF object distance measuringwindow 23, are provided in the window portion 19 of the camera body 10in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limitedto this embodiment. Windows for other optical elements, photometeringelements, light emitters, etc., can be provided in the window portion.

As can be understood from the foregoing, according to the presentinvention, since the slide cover consists of at least two slide coverelements which are slidable along the front surface of the camera body,not only the photographing lens but also the various windows such as thefinder object window, the AF object distance measuring window, the AEphotometering window, etc., can be covered and protected by the slidecover when the slide cover of a compact camera is closed. Moreover, whenthe slide cover is opened, the photographing lens and the windows can beuncovered from the slide cover and exposed from the front surface of thecamera.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera having a sliding cover supported to slide along a front surface of a camera body to one of selectively cover and uncover a photographing lens, said sliding cover comprising at least two sliding cover elements which are slidable along the front surface of the camera body, wherein said sliding cover comprises a main cover element guided to slide along the front surface of the camera body, and an auxiliary cover element provided between the main cover element and the front surface of the camera body, said auxiliary cover element being moved in association with a movement of said main cover element in an opening direction and a closing direction to respectively increase and reduce an amount of overlap between said main cover element and said auxiliary cover element, the camera further comprising a drive lever that moves said auxiliary cover element relative to said main cover element in a same direction as said main cover element, in association with a movement of said main cover element, said drive lever being pivoted to said main cover element, one end of said drive lever engaging with said auxiliary cover element, another end of said drive lever engaging with a driving portion provided on the front surface of the camera body.
 2. A camera having a sliding cover according to claim 1, wherein said driving portion comprises a pair of spaced drive ribs provided on and projecting from the front surface of the camera body.
 3. A camera having a sliding cover according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary cover element is provided with an auxiliary cover end which extends from an end of the main cover element in said closing direction to expose the front surface of the camera body when the main cover element is closed to close said sliding cover.
 4. A camera having a sliding cover according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning member that determines a position of the auxiliary cover element, relative to the front surface of the camera body when said sliding cover is opened.
 5. A camera having a sliding cover according to claim 4, wherein said positioning member comprises engaging projections provided on the front surface of the camera body to engage with a part of the auxiliary cover element.
 6. A camera having a sliding cover movable between a lens covering position, in which a photographing lens is covered by said sliding cover, and a lens uncovering position, in which said photographing lens is uncovered, wherein said sliding cover comprises a plurality of sliding cover elements relatively movable to vary an amount of overlap therebetween, said amount of overlap between said sliding cover elements being at a minimum at said lens covering position and being at a maximum at said lens uncovering position, so as to minimize a moving amount of said sliding cover, the camera further comprising a drive lever that moves one of said plurality of sliding cover elements relative to another of said plurality of sliding cover elements in a same direction as said another of said plurality of sliding cover elements, in association with a movement of said another of said plurality of sliding cover elements, said drive lever being pivoted to said another of said plurality of sliding cover elements, one end of said drive lever engaging with said one of said plurality of sliding cover elements, another end of said drive lever engaging with a driving portion provided on the front surface of the camera body.
 7. A camera having a lens protecting cover structure, comprising:a main cover element guided to slide along a front surface of a camera body to one of selectively open and close a photographing lens of said camera; an abutment surface provided on said front surface of said camera body to restrict a movement of said main cover element in a closing direction thereof; a non-contact end surface provided at one end of said main cover element which forms a space between said abutment surface and said non-contact end surface; and an auxiliary cover element provided between said main cover element and said front surface of said camera body to close said space when said main cover is in a closed position.
 8. A camera according to claim 7, further comprising a driving mechanism for moving said auxiliary cover element to retract and protrude from said non-contact surface of said main cover element in association with a movement of said main cover element in said opening and closing directions.
 9. A camera according to claim 8, further comprising a driving mechanism for moving said auxiliary cover element relative to said main cover element in a same direction as that of said main cover element in association with said movement of said main cover element.
 10. A camera according to claim 9, said driving mechanism comprising a drive lever pivoted to said main cover element, one end of said drive lever engaging with said auxiliary cover element, another end of said drive lever engaging with a driving portion provided on said front surface of said camera body.
 11. A camera having a sliding cover according to claim 10, wherein said driving portion comprises a pair of spaced drive ribs provided on and projecting from said front surface of said camera body. 